Marine protected areas should be the new =
priority for=20
South American governments, according to those who attended =
the=20
Latin American Parks Congress earlier this =
month

Participants in the Second Latin American Congress on =
National=20
Parks and other protected areas have declared the years =
2008-2018 to=20
be the =93decade of marine protected areas=94.

The Bariloche Declaration, the official statement of the =
2,200=20
participants, urged Latin American governments to prioritize =
the=20
establishment of national and regional marine protected =
areas=20
networks as part of a system of integrated ocean management. =

The goal is to meet targets set at the World Summit on=20
Sustainable Development in 2002, including for the =
designation of=20
representative marine protected areas networks worldwide by=20
2012.

The congress was held from 30 September to 6 October in =
San=20
Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. The World Conservation Union =
(IUCN)=20
and the marine section of its World Commission on Protected =
Areas=20
have organized a marine cross-cutting theme that tackled =
five major=20
issues.

These include setting up national, regional and =
subregional=20
marine protected areas networks, governing them and =
fisheries, and=20
managing marine protected areas in terms of their =
contribution to=20
threatened species conservation.

Amid concern that the region=92s rate of marine protected =
areas=20
designation is too slow to meet the 2012 target, congress=20
participants called for a refocusing of conservation efforts =
on the=20
oceans.

Existing marine protected areas cover about 0.5% of the =
marine=20
area of Latin America, while nearly 20% of the continent=92s =
land area=20
is protected. Most of Latin American marine protected areas =
are=20
multiple use, small in size, and do not extend far beyond =
the=20
coastal line. Efforts for setting up oceanic and high seas =
marine=20
protected areas are inexistent.

The task ahead is challenging, and efforts need to =
continue to=20
make sure that the achievements are not only on paper. For =
that=20
reason IUCN and the marine section of its World Commission =
on=20
Protected Areas will be hosting an electronic forum to =
extend the=20
discussion on the major conclusions of the Bariloche =
Congress.

The forum will focus on common criteria for marine =
protected area=20
networks and develop the regional World Commission on =
Protected=20
Areas-Marine Plan of Action for 2008-2018 that would =
prioritize=20
actions focusing on achieving the 2012 targets.